Minister's Message

RECEIVE REST

A message from Rick Mosher, minister
Licking Christian Church

During August I took a couple of weeks of vacation. No matter how exciting the work is here it’s always good to get away for a brief time each year. Early in September we celebrate Labor Day. So many businesses are open for Labor Day sales now that I think a bit of the reason for this holiday has been lost.

However originally the intent of Labor Day was to give our working people a day to rest out of appreciation for the contribution they make to society. Many in industry and other occupations still benefit from this time of rest. God made us needing rest. He modeled having a day of rest by resting during the seventh day of creation. He taught this principle to the people of Israel by instituting the Sabbath as a weekly day of rest. All of this serves to confirm what we all know by experience: we all become weary and need some time for rest.

Sometimes we need rest spiritually and emotionally as well. The cares of life and the burden of a life far too broken down by sin exacts a heavy toll on us. We just need some relief and rest. That’s where God comes in. In Matthew 11.28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Also back in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 40.31 God gives us these words for the weary: “…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Folks, I can’t give you a detailed breakdown of how this all works, particularly in a brief article on this web page. Some of it you just have to turn loose in faith and experience. I can assure you, however, that I have experienced this rest and so have many others. It is all powered by what happened at the cross of Calvary where Jesus died so that our burden of sin could be destroyed, lifted from our shoulders and taken as far away as the east is from the west. If you are weary and burdened, I urge you to TRY JESUS. As an old hymn puts it, “If you are tired of the load of your sin, let Jesus come into your heart.”

Nothing in life is more important than knowing you are in Christ. If you are not yet in Him, you need to obey Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This initial salvation response starts with faith in Jesus. (John 3.16) To result in salvation, then, our faith must lead us to repent from sin (Acts 2.38), confess (acknowledge) our faith in Jesus (Matthew 10.32), be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.38; Romans 6.4), and remain faithful to Christ (I Corinthians 15.58).
If we can assist you in completing your obedience to the Gospel, visit or contact us at Licking Christian Church. If you do not live in our community, we will be glad to try to help connect you with a congregation near you.